Kingston Regatta is a
rowing
Rowing is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using the sweeping motions of oars to displace water and generate reactional propulsion. Rowing is functionally similar to paddling, but rowing requires oars to be mechanically atta ...
regatta
Boat racing is a sport in which boats, or other types of watercraft, race on water. Boat racing powered by oars is recorded as having occurred in ancient Egypt, and it is likely that people have engaged in races involving boats and other wate ...
, on the
River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...
in England which takes place at
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames (hyphenated until 1965, colloquially known as Kingston) is a town in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, England. It is situated on the River Thames and southwest of Charing Cross. It is notable as ...
,
Surrey
Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...
on the reach above
Teddington Lock
Teddington Lock is a complex of three lock (water transport), locks and a weir on the River Thames between Ham, London, Ham and Teddington in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. Historically in Middlesex, it was first buil ...
.
The regatta takes place in July and forms part of the Kingston River Festival. It attracts top crews from schools, clubs and universities from around the UK. Racing takes place on the 1000 metre downstream course that stretches alongside
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a Grade I listed royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, southwest and upstream of central London on the River Thames. The building of the palace began in 1514 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the chie ...
Park and ends just upstream of
Kingston Bridge. International and Olympic rowers who have won at Kingston Regatta include
Jack Beresford
Jack Beresford, CBE (1 January 1899 – 3 December 1977), born Jack Beresford-Wiszniewski, was a British rower who won five medals at five Olympic Games in succession. This record in Olympic rowing was not matched until 2000 when Sir Steve Red ...
,
Tim Crooks
Timothy John Crooks (born 12 May 1949) is a former British rower who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics. He was seven times winner at Henley Royal Regatta and won the Wingfield Sculls three times.
Rowing career
Cr ...
,
Kieran West and
James Cracknell
James Edward Cracknell, (born 5 May 1972) is a British athlete, rowing champion and double Olympic gold medalist. Cracknell was appointed OBE for "services to sport" in the 2005 New Year Honours List.
Biography
Cracknell began rowing whilst ...
.
[British Rowing Almanack - all years]
Kingston Regatta was first raced on 1 and 2 June 1857 and, for the first 80 years, was run from
Kingston Rowing Club
Kingston Rowing Club (KRC) is a rowing club in England founded in 1858 and a member club of British Rowing.
The club is located on the River Thames at Kingston upon Thames, downstream and north-east of Kingston Bridge and Kingston Railway Bri ...
whose boathouse was on
Raven's Ait
Raven's Ait is an ait (island) in the Thames between Surbiton, Kingston and Hampton Court Park in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London, England, in the reach of the river above Teddington Lock. Used as a boating training centre ...
. The Regatta was a major event in both the sporting and social calendar. The Regatta moved from Raven’s Ait in 1937 to
Canbury Gardens
Canbury Gardens is a public space in the Canbury district of Kingston upon Thames, along the Lower Ham Road, covering 14½ acres area between the road and the towpath along the River Thames, downstream from Kingston Railway Bridge.
History
In ...
after the Club moved to Turk’s Boat House in Lower Ham Road. The Regatta moved to its current site opposite the town centre in 1991.
See also
*
Rowing on the River Thames
The Thames is one of the main rowing rivers in Europe. Dorney Lake between Slough and Windsor, Berkshire is an international Cup, standard-distance rowing lake besides the Thames, and hosts the three main annual entry regattas for Henley: still n ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Kingston Regatta website
Recurring sporting events established in 1857
Regattas on the River Thames
Sport in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
1857 establishments in England